Dog in car
You don't have to be a car expert to identify when there's an issue with your own vehicle. While you may not be able to always pinpoint the exact problem, using your sense can help you tell when something out of the ordinary is happening. It's not just sights and sounds, either. Certain smells can even clue you in on a developing problem. Here's a list of a few smells to be aware of, and what they could mean for your car.
Burnt rubber
When it comes to your car, the smell of anything burning should set off alarms. Burning rubber could be the result of some hard driving that's been even harder on your tires. But, in most cases, it's a signal that belts or hoses under your hood need repair or replacement. When belts slip, or hoses are misplaced, they can rub against other parts and produce a burning smell. It's usually a good idea to wait to investigate when you notice this smell, however, because the engine compartment is usually hot and unsafe to touch.
Hot oil
If it's hot, or burning oil that you smell, it's pretty easy to diagnose that oil is leaking somewhere that it shouldn't. It can be much more difficult to decipher where oil is leaking, however. The first place you can check is under your car. Oil leaking onto your exhaust system could produce this smell and then end up on the pavement below. If there doesn't seem to be any oil here, look for smoke or the hot oil smell coming from under the hood. Oil could also be coming in contact with engine components, which is a severe fire hazard.
Gasoline
This is another obvious problem. If you're smelling gas long after your last fill-up, it's likely that you're leaking fuel. The usual suspects for leaks are the fuel injector line, or the fuel tank. Locate these and look for signs of leaking fuel as soon as possible. Much like leaking oil, any leaking gasoline is a fire hazard that should be dealt with immediately.
Sweet syrup
Smelling something sweet around your vehicle can be a little more confusing than the other smells listed here. Usually, this is a sign that engine coolant is leaking from your car's cooling system. Again, pinpointing the leak can be difficult as there are a number of components to investigate. And remember, your radiator cap should never be opened while it's hot.
Rotten eggs
The smell of rotten eggs in your vehicle is certainly unpleasant, and could signal a problem with your exhaust system. Specifically, your catalytic converter may not be coverting hydrogen sulfide in your exhaust to sulfur dioxide correctly. The problem could also be traced back to your engine, which may be running poorly and overloading the catalytic converter. At any rate, no one wants to be in a car that smells like rotten eggs, so get this checked out immediately.
If you notice any strange smells in your BMW, Mercedes, or Hummer H1, come see us at Benzin Motor Works. Our team of expert technicians are supremely qualified to perform repairs and maintenance on these makes.